Daniel and the Lions' Den
Daniel 6
It
pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole
kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom
these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3
Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and
satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set
him over the whole kingdom. 4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to
find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they
could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and
no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find
any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection
with the law of his God.”
6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement [a] to
the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All the high
officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the
governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an
injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days,
except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king,
establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed,
according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9
Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.
10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he
went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward
Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave
thanks before his God, as he had done previously. 11 Then these men came by
agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 12 Then
they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king!
Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man
within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”
The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the
Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they ansered and said
before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no
attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his
petition three times a day.”
Footnotes:
Daniel 6:6 Or came thronging; also verses
11, 15
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version.
ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing
ministry of Good News Publishers.
Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.
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